Belgium’s Nafissatou Thiam is one of five finalists for the title of 2018 World Female Athlete of the Year, the International Amateur Athletics Federation (IAAF) announced on Monday. The European Heptathlon champion will need to wait until Tuesday 4 December in Monaco to know whether she will win the prestigious title.
The finalists received the highest number of votes from among 10 female athletes proposed by the IAAF on 22 October. The four others include British sprinter Dina Asher-Smith, European champion in the 100, 200 and 4 x 100 metres and recently elected European athlete of the year, along with Kenya’s Beatrice Chepkoech, who clipped eight seconds off the world 3,000-metre steeplechase.
Colombia’s Caterine Ibarguen, Diamond League champion in the long and triple jump, and unbeaten in eight triple-jump finals, together with Bahamian Shaunae Miller-Uibo, Diamond League 200-metre champion and holder of the best 400-metre time since 2006, complete the list.
The selection of the finalists is done by three different groups. The IAAF Council (governing body) has 50% of the vote, while the IAAF family (members) and the public (via the Internet) have 25% of the vote each. Voting ended on 12 November.
The IAAF will announce the names of the finalists for the male title of World Athlete of the Year 2018 on Tuesday.
The Brussels Times
